Page:The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Vol 5.djvu/297

263 THE KING AND HIS VIZIER’S WIFE.

There was once a king, who was given to the love of women, and one day, being alone in his palace, he espied a beautiful woman on the roof of her house and could not contain himself from falling in love with her. He asked [his servants] to whom the house belonged and they said, “To thy vizier such an one.” So he called the vizier in question and despatched him on an errand to a distant part of the kingdom; then, as soon as he was gone, he made an excuse to gain access to his house. When the vizier’s wife saw him, she knew him and springing up, kissed his hands and feet and welcomed him. Then she stood afar off busying herself in his service, and said to him, [sic] “O our lord, what is the cause of thy gracious visit? Such an honour is not for the like of me.” Quoth he, “Love of thee and desire to thee hath moved me to this.” Whereupon she kissed the earth before him a second time and said, “O our lord, indeed I am not worthy to be the handmaid of one of the king’s servants; whence then have I the great good fortune to be in such favour with thee?” Then the king put out his hand to her, but she said. “This thing shall not escape us; but take patience, O king, and abide with me all this day, that I may make ready for thee somewhat of victual.” So the king sat down on his vizier’s couch and the lady brought him a book wherein he might read, whilst she made ready the food. He took the book and beginning to read, found therein moral instances and exhortations, such as restrained him from adultery and broke his intent to commit sin.

After awhile, she returned and set before him a collation of ninety dishes of different kinds and colours, and he ate a spoonful of each and found that the taste of them was one. At this, he marvelled exceedingly and said to the